Below is the text of Mr Major's written Parliamentary Answer on Unemployment Benefit on 23rd January 1987.

Mr. Ernie Ross Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what rate of benefit will be paid to those long-term unemployed persons who accepted a place on the new job training scheme and who are still unemployed at the end of their training course; and if the same rate will be paid to a claimant who leaves before completing six months under the scheme.

Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend, the Paymaster General to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South West (Mrs. Bottomley) on 16 January 1987, at columns 334-35.

The rate of benefit an individual will receive as a result of these new arrangements will depend on his or her circumstances at the time. Subject to any other changes of circumstances, trainees will receive the same income by way of training allowance and supplementary benefit while on the course as they received previously in benefit alone. Those who do not find work after training and whose circumstances are unchanged will normally get the same rate of benefit that they received before they began the course. Trainees who leave the scheme early will similarly receive the same rate of benefit as was paid before the course.